Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Spring game is another recruiting success

By Christopher Dukes

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Army Black Knights at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Black Knights 28-21 in overtime. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Army Black Knights at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Black Knights 28-21 in overtime. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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For the first time in its history, Oklahoma football’s annual spring game went under the lights this past Friday, creating a special experience for fans, players, coaches and especially recruits.

In just his second spring at the helm of the Oklahoma football program, head coach Lincoln Riley has quickly turned what used to be considered a glorified practice into a massive recruiting extravaganza with some of the top names in the 2020 and 2021 classes.

In addition to the game itself, the Sooners hosted a special event at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, on Saturday attracting more than 20 top-end recruits from across the nation.

Throughout the event the theme was obvious. The Oklahoma football program brought out the hardware to differentiate itself from other programs (especially a certain rival to the south that was hosting its own spring game the same weekend).

The work paid off for Riley and Oklahoma with three committments so far. Riley started tweeting out the eyeball emojis early in the weekend, signaling a player had made a verbal pledge to the Sooners.

https://twitter.com/LincolnRiley/status/1117184599405342722

Before the weekend was over we knew accounted for at least two of the eyeballs. 2020 cornerback Dontae Manning was the first. The 6-foot, 180-pound prospect from Raytown Missouri (in the Kansas City area). He chose the Sooners over the likes of Michigan, Missouri, Noter Dame, Oregon and others. Manning is the No. 7 cornerback in the country according to Rivals and the first defensive commitment since Grinch took over.

The Sooners had two defensive backs decommit once Grinch took over, signaling a change in the type of player the Sooners are looking for in the secondary. Manning – at six feet tall – appears to better fit the Grinch mold of a cornerback with his long, rangy frame. He’s a guy who should be over 200 pounds once he is on a college diet and weight program, making him capable of playing press coverage on the outside when needed.

The other commit is 2021 wide receiver Cody Jackson. Jackson the first Sooner commit for the 2021 class and a blue chip talent through and through. He already has offers from the likes of Alabama, Texas, LSU, Michigan and Oregon among many others.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Jackson comes from Richmond Foster High School, which gave the Sooners the gift of current receiver Ceedee Lamb.

Though not the physical specimen Lamb is (to be fair, he’s still a sophomore in high school), he might already be faster than his fellow Foster Falcon. His Hudl profile claims a 4.4 40-yard dash time, which is not uncommon. What is uncommon is a guy who has the film to back up a dubious claim like that and watching Jackson on tape, he looks every bit a 4.4 guy.

Must Read. Why Kyler Murray will be OU’s second straight No. 1 NFL draft pick. light

Jackson’s commitment gives the Sooners a name on the board for 2021 and it’s a guy in Texas, which is always a key pipeline state for Oklahoma football. Guys like this can sometimes have a snowball effect on recruiting.

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